Improvement in fly-traps



'1. C. DUNN.

FLY-TRAP.

Patented Dec. 21,1875.

" N o.171,36Z.

ATTORNEYS.

PE ERS, FNOTO-IJTNOGRIPHER, WASBONGYOM. D C.

UNITEo STATES PATENT Orrroe.

THOMAS C. DUNN, OF PROMISE CITY, IOWA.

lMPROVEMENT IN FLV-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,362, dated December 21, 1875 application filed November 13, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. DUNN, of

, Promise City, in the county of Wayne and which is hung to a supporting pivot-frame,

and provided at the open front half of its top with a swinging spring-acted lid, that is fringed with brushes, and thrown open by a lever when applied to the ceiling, and closed instantly when removed from the same. A corner recess of the flanged front edge allows the emptying of the flies from the box after they are killed.

In the drawing, A represents a box or receptacle, of tin or other material and suitable size, which is hung at the sides to pivotarms B, branching out from a handle, B, of such length that the ceiling may be conveniently reached by the box. The box A adapts itself readily to the ceiling or top wall, being prevented from revolving on the pivot-arms by a band-spring, O, that passes from the handle through a small bottom hole of the box to the inside of the same. A second spring, 0, extends from the back of the box Ato the rear part of the swinging lid, for the purpose of keeping the lid D closed by the action of the spring until opened by press ing back its lever D. The receptacleAis open at the front half of its top, the lid serving to close the open part. The flanged front edge of the open top part and the lid are placed about three-eighths of an inch below the closed top of the box, and the side and front edges of the box, as well as the front edge of the lid, fringed with suitable brushes E, that serve to stir up the flies when moving the trap along the ceiling or walls. The lid D is applied to a wire binding-frame, D, that is pivoted, by its side legs, to the lower front part of the box, the lever D forming the center part of the frame, and extending at slight upward inclination back toward the closed top part.

When the trap is applied at dusk to the ceiling for catching the flies, and moved along the same, the lever D comes in contact therewith, and throws, in connection with the forward motion of the box, the lid back, so as to keep the box open while the same is carried along the ceiling.

The flies are stirred up by the brush E of the lid after the open part of the box has passed over them, and are caught in the box, from which they cannot easily escape. The side brushes at the front of the box stir up the flies, and prevent thereby the soiling of the ceiling by the crushing of a fly. 1

As soon as the contact of the box with the ceiling is discontinued the lever is released,

and the spring will instantly close the lid,

keeping the flies securely caged in thebox.

The flies are killed by admitting. hot water through the narrow space between lid and top of box, and removed by opening the lid.

The flanged front edge has a recess, a, at one corner, that is closed by a corresponding lip, a, of the lid, through which the dead flies are readily dropped or removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut-- 1. A fly-trap made of a box or receptacle, pivoted to the arms of a handle, and partially open at the top, in connection with a swing- THOMAS GARGIL DUNN.

Witnesses ANDREW MILLIGAN, WM. 0. MILLIGAN. 

